Life preserver



(No Model.) 2 Sheets-Sheet 1.

F. G. G. WEIR.

LIFE PRESERVER.

No. 431,830. Patented July 8, 1890.

FIG 5 FIG 4 FIGzI.

2 SheetsSheet 2.

(No Model.)

F. G. (J. WEIR. LIFE PRESERVER.

No. 431,830. Patented July 8, 1890.

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UNITED STATES P ENT OFFICE. 1

FREDERICK GEO. CHAS. \VEIR, OF BRISTOL, COUNTY OF GLOUCESTER,

ENGLAND.

Ll FE-PRESERV-ER.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 431,830,da.ted July 8, 1890. Application filed October 28, 1889. Serial No. 328,427. (No model.) Patented in England August 8, 1887, No. 10,863.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, FREDERICK GEORGE CHARLES WEIR, wine and spirit merchant, a subject of the Queen of Great Britain, residing at Bristol, in the county of Gloucester, England, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Life-Preservers, (for which a patent has been granted to me in Great Britain,-dated August 8, 1887, No. 10,863,) of which the following is a specification.

My invention refers to the construction and arrangement of hollow metal floats for use as life-buoys for the preservation of life at sea or on inland waters, and is an improvement on a patent granted to me in the United States the March 11, 1879, No. 213,152.

Hitherto in life-buoys in which the floats consist of rigid hollow vessels having a com paratively large area of surface I have found that when in practical use, and especially after transport on board ship, or otherwise, such are extremely liable to be found useless, sometimes because of skin perforation, but more often from having become crushed or compressed, and this latter has been the most frequent cause of leakage.

Now according to my invention, to prevent the liability of the curved vessels getting compressed and to give them greater strength, I provide the vessels (which I preferably make of curved form) with several strut-like partitions, and (when of curved form) preferably placed somewhat perpendicularly to the curved contour of the float. These partitions are fitted in sufficient number to pre vent the possibility of any considerable portion of the float becoming collapsed, and of course it is obvious that, if desired, such partitions may be extended, as has been shown in the drawings annexed hereto, so as to divide the fioat into a number of air-chambers.

The internal and supporting structures may be composed, preferably, of metal; but papiermach, wood, or other suitable material, or a combination of same, may be used for the purpose. The vessels are or may be curved or shaped so as to adapt themselves with facility to the contour of the body of the wearer. One or several of the curved vessels may be arranged for or to fit onto the chest of the wearer, with a cylindrical vessel for the back,

or the back-vessel and the front vessel or vessels may be of curved shape.

, In order that my invention may be fully understood and readily carried into effect, I will now proceed to further describe the same, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which V Figure 1 shows a front elevation, partially in section, of a curved vessel provided with strut or brace plates or strengthening-pieces. Fig. 2 is a horizontal section of the same. Fig. 3 is an elevation, partially in section, of a cylindrical vessel; and Fig. 4 is a vertical cross-section of the same. Fig. 5 is a perspective view of a life-preserver with vessels for the chest and back, and Fig. 6 is a perspective view of a life-preserver with vessels adapted to lit under the arms.

a a a are the compartments formed in the curved vessel by strengthening-pieces b b, forming struts or braces. One face of the vessel is concaved to conform to the human body and the other face is composed of a series of curves, two strut or brace plates extending angularly across the vessel from the intersecting lines of the series of curves, and one strut or brace extending across the central portion. The number or precise placing of said struts or braces is not material.

In Figs. 3 and 4 is shown in section a cylindrical vessel provided with strengtheningpieces 19, forming struts or braces, which in this case preferably assume the forms of arms radiating like the spokes of a wheel. The number of radiating arms or spokes may vary in number, according to circumstancesas, for example, in accordance with the size of the apparatus, there may be three, four, or even a greater or less number of such arms or strengthening pieces, and this remark equally applies to the strengthening-pieces or brace-plates b in the curved vessels shown at Figs. 1 and 2.

The object of curving the vessels shown at Figs. 1 and 2 is to cause them to fit or to adapt themselves with ease to the body of the wearer, although they might be flat; but

and the curved vessel on the chest of the wearer and connect the two by cords or straps.

In Fig. 5 cords connect two vesselssuch as are shown at Figs. 1 and 2-and retain the same in position. 0 c are shoulder-cords between which the head of the wearer is passed. d d are side cords passing under the arms, and e e are cords which pass between the legs and hold the vessels securely in position.

In Fig. 6 the vessels are similar to those shown at Figs. 1 and 2, and they are connected together by a back piece f of fabric, and provided with shoulder-straps g and front straps h, and the back piecef is adjustable to such a size or dimension that when on the wearer the position of the vessels will be immediately under the arms. 1' are straps for adjusting the width of the fabric back f. The vessels should be coated with some noncorrosive material to resist the action of salt water.

The buoyant or sustaining power of appa- I'atus constructed according to my invention is very considerable. They are not expensive to manufacture, and when fitted to the body the limbs are quite free for action in the natural way, While the arrangements for securing the apparatus to the body prevent its position thereon changing or shifting.

I claim as my invention 1. In life-preservers for supporting persons in water, the combination, with the hollow served in shape and prevented from collaps ing, as set forth.

3. In life-preservers for supportingpcrsons in water, the combination, with the air-tight floats having the struts or strengtheningpieces I) b b, of the shoulder-cords c a, connected to said vessels, and between which the head of the wearer passes, the side cords cl d, passing under the arms, and cords e e, passing between the legs, as set forth.

4. In life-preservers for supporting persons in water, the combination, with the air-tight vessels provided with the struts or strengthening-pieces b b b, of the flexible back piece f and its adjusting-straps 'l, the shoulderstraps g, and the front straps h, connected to the air-tight vessels, as set forth.

FREDK. GEO. CHAS. WEIR.

Witnesses:

WILLIAM MILFORD KEMP, 7 North Road, St. Andrews Park, Bristol,

Accountant.

ARTHUR ERNEST CHAPMAN, 41 Broad Street, Bristol, Solicitors Clerk. 

